H-O-T Nomad

[Joaquin Suave]

As a bonus to myself for completeing a long & hard contract, I hunted down and purchased a Hop-On-Top Nomad 16. Here are some pictures with it next to my wave-ski. It is VERY fast and has about as much storage for camping gear as Casa Azul. I picked it up on Friday in the Bay area, then paddled it "stock" on Saturday. On Sat. afternoon & sun. morning, i started outfitting it with foot-blocks and "mock-up" thigh straps. Once I perfect my thigh straps I'm 99% sure I can roll it!

[grahamfitter]

Hi Joaquin,

That's a really interesting kayak! I've never seen a hybrid between a sit-on-top and a "real" sea kayak with bulkheads and storage - let us know how it goes.

Out of interest, why did you pick this over a traditional closed-cockpit boat? I can see the obvious benefit of being able to climb back on top after a swim which has got to make paddling alone a lot less spooky. But a lot more of you is exposed to the weather which has its own drawbacks.

If you can get your feet, thighs and back outfitting sorted I bet you could roll it. I'd be curious to see how much water you scoop up and whether that makes it any harder.

Happy paddling!

Cheers,
Graham

[Joaquin Suave]

Out of interest, why did you pick this over a traditional closed-cockpit boat? I can see the obvious benefit of being able to climb back on top after a swim which has got to make paddling alone a lot less spooky. But a lot more of you is exposed to the weather which has its own drawbacks.

I plan on using it for snorkeling & spearfishing on our travels down in Baja.

Weather???
Compaired to being on my waveski in double overhead surf...The Nomad feels like I'm on a Carnival cruise ship. I'll wear my 3/2 full suit if things get real nasty, but in reality...I'm a fair weather paddler. Though I'll be taking the nomad out into rough open Ocean...Just to see how she tracks in trailling seas.

I can roll my ski with no problem, so I should have no problem rolling the nomad once I get my thigh straps figured out. The bummer is that my shins contact the old foot brace track.

[HMR]

Awesome kayak! That looks perfect for cruising the kelp beds and riding a few waves on the way back to shore.

Compaired to being on my waveski in double overhead surf...

Double overhead on a ski?
That's gotta be at least... 4 feet?

[grahamfitter]

I plan on using it for snorkeling & spearfishing on our travels down in Baja.

Weather???
Compaired to being on my waveski in double overhead surf...The Nomad feels like I'm on a Carnival cruise ship. I'll wear my 3/2 full suit if things get real nasty, but in reality...I'm a fair weather paddler. Though I'll be taking the nomad out into rough open Ocean...Just to see how she tracks in trailling seas.

I can roll my ski with no problem, so I should have no problem rolling the nomad once I get my thigh straps figured out. The bummer is that my shins contact the old foot brace track.

I hadn't thought of deliberately abandoning ship but now everything makes sense! Looks like fun.

(So does the waveski - my new Wavesport Fuse playboat has a really loose hull and doesn't carve on waves like my old Perception Shock does. Its fun, but not as much fun. Needs fins!)

Cheers,
Graham

[Joaquin Suave]

Double overhead on a ski?
That's gotta be at least... 4 feet?

Yuck, yuck, yuck...I saw that one comming! Ok, how about 6x Overhead then!

[Barracuda]

I am glad you an enjoying it!

Thanks for the link to this forum. I think I am going to like a couple boards here.

You should come post at paddling.net, too!

[blupaddler]

Nice Jack!!!

It looks a lot like a surf ski but with storage compartments, and your center of gravity seems to be really low in the water. A nice find congrats.